LeBron James smiles broadly while holding the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy and the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Written by

Jeff Zillgitt
| USA TODAY

LeBron James ate his pregame dinner Thursday with close friends and confidants.

Everyone at the table knew the scenario: Beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals for the Miami Heat's second consecutive NBA title and put idle chatter to rest. Or lose and spend the summer dealing with another Finals disappointment, plus oodles of criticism.

Everyone at dinner, James most of all, also knew San Antonio's game plan: Keep James out of the lane and let him shoot jump shots. ...